Google Cloud Compute Engine Cost Calculator
Estimate your monthly costs for a Google Cloud Compute Engine virtual machine instance. This calculator provides an approximation based on common configurations and simplified pricing models. Actual GCP costs may vary based on specific machine types, sustained use discounts, custom machine types, and detailed network egress tiers.
us-central1 (Iowa)
europe-west1 (Belgium)
asia-east1 (Taiwan)
e2-standard-2 (2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM)
n2-standard-4 (4 vCPU, 16 GB RAM)
c2-standard-8 (8 vCPU, 32 GB RAM)
Linux (Free)
Windows Server
Standard Persistent Disk
SSD Persistent Disk
Typical month has ~730 hours (24/7)
Data transfer out of the region
Estimated Monthly Costs:
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- VM Instance (vCPU + RAM): $" + vmInstanceTotalCost.toFixed(2) + " "; resultHTML += "
- OS Licensing (" + vmOperatingSystem + "): $" + osLicensingTotalCost.toFixed(2) + " "; resultHTML += "
- Persistent Disk (" + vmStorageType + "): $" + persistentDiskTotalCost.toFixed(2) + " "; resultHTML += "
- Network Egress: $" + networkEgressTotalCost.toFixed(2) + " "; resultHTML += "
Understanding Google Cloud Compute Engine Costs
Google Cloud Platform (GCP) offers a vast array of services, and Compute Engine, its Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) offering, is one of the most popular. It allows users to launch virtual machines (VMs) on Google's infrastructure, providing flexibility and scalability. However, understanding the pricing model can be complex, as costs are influenced by several factors.
Key Factors Influencing Compute Engine Costs:
- Machine Type: This defines the number of virtual CPUs (vCPUs) and the amount of memory (RAM) allocated to your VM. GCP offers various predefined machine types (e.g., E2, N2, C2 series) optimized for different workloads, each with its own per-vCPU and per-GB-RAM hourly rates. Custom machine types also allow for granular control over resources.
- Region: The geographical location where your VM instances are hosted significantly impacts pricing. Different regions have different operational costs, which are reflected in varying hourly rates for vCPUs, RAM, and other resources. Generally, regions with higher demand or operational costs (e.g., some Asian or European regions) might be more expensive than others (e.g., US regions).
- Operating System (OS): While many Linux distributions are free to use on Compute Engine, proprietary operating systems like Windows Server incur additional licensing costs. These costs are typically charged per vCPU per hour.
- Persistent Disk Storage: VMs require persistent disks for their operating system and data. The cost of persistent disks depends on two main factors:
- Disk Type: Standard persistent disks (HDD-backed) are more economical, suitable for less demanding workloads. SSD persistent disks offer higher performance and are more expensive.
- Disk Size: You are charged for the provisioned capacity of your disk, regardless of how much data is actually stored on it.
- Monthly Uptime: Compute Engine charges are typically calculated on a per-second basis for most resources, with a minimum charge. The longer your VM runs, the higher the cost. Our calculator uses monthly hours (e.g., 730 for 24/7 operation) to estimate this.
- Network Egress (Data Transfer Out): Data transferred out of a GCP region (e.g., to the internet or another GCP region) incurs charges. The pricing for network egress is often tiered, meaning the cost per GB decreases as the volume of data transferred increases. Data transfer within the same region or into GCP is generally free.
- Sustained Use Discounts: GCP automatically applies discounts for VM instances that run for a significant portion of the billing month. The longer an instance runs, the higher the discount, up to a certain percentage. This calculator does not factor in sustained use discounts for simplicity, so actual costs might be lower for long-running instances.
- Preemptible VMs: For fault-tolerant workloads, preemptible VMs offer significantly lower costs but can be terminated by GCP at any time. This calculator focuses on standard (non-preemptible) VMs.
How to Use the Calculator:
Our Google Cloud Compute Engine Cost Calculator helps you get a quick estimate of your monthly VM expenses. Simply select your desired region, machine type, operating system, persistent disk configuration, and estimate your monthly uptime and network egress. The calculator will then provide a breakdown of the estimated costs for each component, giving you a clearer picture of your potential GCP spending.
Important Considerations:
- Illustrative Pricing: The pricing used in this calculator is simplified and illustrative. It does not reflect real-time or exact GCP pricing, which can change and vary based on specific agreements or promotions. Always refer to the official GCP Compute Engine pricing page for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
- Additional Services: This calculator focuses solely on the core Compute Engine VM instance, persistent disk, and basic network egress. Your overall GCP bill might include costs for other services like databases (Cloud SQL, Firestore), load balancers, monitoring, specialized networking, or other managed services.
- Free Tier: GCP offers a free tier for many services, including a small Compute Engine instance, which can help you get started without incurring costs.
By understanding these factors and using tools like this calculator, you can better plan and optimize your Google Cloud infrastructure spending.